In the oil and gas industry, we find ourselves describing public hostility to our work in black-and-white terms, such as “fight for our lives” and “energy wars.” These characterizations serve a purpose: They unite oil and gas workers, give us a sense of shared purpose, and mobilize us to serve as industry ambassadors to the world. But could this kind of black-and-white thinking — which seems to strengthen our collective identity — also lead us to our demise? Now that’s worthy of contemplation.